The Debt We Owe the Adolescent Brain Study Guide

Which quotation from the selection best explains how teenagers can benefit from their developing brains?

"As long as it's not lethal—as in the case of foolish risk taking—it can lead to innovation and creativity."

Two phrases describe how the organizational structure in the section Moving On from Childhood supports the author's thesis.

"Comparing the brains of adolescents to the brains of adults" and "Naming the effects of rewards on the adolescent brain"

What idea does the evidence in paragraph 9 support?

Adolescents are more sensitive to rewards than children or adults.

Moving On From Childhood (Looking for Organizational Structure)

Cause and Effect

Brain Under Construction (Looking for Organizational Structure)

Compare and Contrast

Read the dictionary definition below. streamline \strēm'līn'\ n 1. a contour designed for decreased air resistance 2. a path of a particle flowing without turbulence past an object v 3. to make something more efficient or simple 4. to modernize something Which definition best fits how streamlines is used in paragraph 4?

Definition 3

Stone Age Impulses in the Modern World(Looking for Organizational Structure)

Description

How does the author feel about risk-taking in adolescents?

The author feels that it is important for teens to take risks because that is how they grow and learn how to thrive in their environments. In the text, it says, "As long as it's not lethal—as in the case of foolish risk taking—it can lead to innovation and creativity." The author also notes that "high risk equals high reward at times." Both of these examples show that the author believes that measured risks during adolescence will help teens thrive as adults.

How does the section Brain Under Construction help develop the main idea of this selection?

This section develops the importance of the adolescent brains in human development. Our extended period of development helps teenagers adapt to thrive in their surroundings. The author states, "This extended period of development lets us build exactly the brain we need to survive in our circumstances." This helps the reader understand that without an adaptable adolescent brain, humans would have died out, like their ancestors.

Read the thesaurus entry. insulate v: wrap, cushion, isolate, detach Which synonym best fits how insulating is used in paragraph 4?

Wrap

The organizational pattern of the section Brain Under Construction allows the author to

compare and contrast human development with Neanderthals

The word "pruning" in paragraph 3 means

eliminating

The author includes the information in the section Stone Age Impulses in the Modern World most likely to

explain the benefits of risk-taking for teenage development

The comparison between most mammals and humans in paragraph 2 helps the reader understand that

humans have a unique period of adolescence compared to most mammals

The title of the selection highlights the idea that

our brain's development during adolescence has positive effects on us as adults

The organization of the section Moving On from Childhood helps the author emphasize that

teenage brains are wired for risk-taking to propel them out of their homes

What is the author's main purpose in "The Debt We Owe to the Adolescent Brain'?

to inform or explain